AsianScientist (Oct. 30, 2013) – Australian scientists have shown that people who are obese when they’re diagnosed with type II diabetes have much better survival rates than those with a healthy weight at the time of diagnosis.
The UK and Australian study, led by Professor Sanjoy Paul from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, involved almost 50,000 type II diabetics. Professor Paul said the research has sparked a new debate on the existence of an ‘obesity paradox’ in diabetes.
“This is a controversial finding in that it flies in the face of standard health advice, that maintaining a healthy weight prevents cardiovascular heart disease and a range of other health conditions,” said Dr. Paul.
“Being overweight is also a known risk factor for getting type II diabetes. But the data does show quite clearly that a diabetic who is obese at the time of their diagnosis fares much better when it comes to overall health.”
Diabetes is a condition where a person’s glucose (sugar) is high. It is associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular and renal diseases. More than a million Australians are diabetic, and up to 90 percent of those cases are type II diabetes.
The article can be found at: Thomas G et al. (2013) Obesity Paradox In People Newly Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes With and Without Prior Cardiovascular Disease.
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Source: QIMR; Photo: Mel B./Flickr/CC.
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